| iodine reaction of epinephrine | A reaction resulting from the oxidation of the hormone, a faint pink colour appearing upon the addition of iodine. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| iodine stain | <technique> A stain to detect amyloid, cellulose, chitin, starch, carotenes, and glycogen, and to stain amoebas by virtue of their glycogen; faeces and other wet preparations are stained directly with Lugol's iodine solution; smears are treated with Schaudinn's fixative and then stained with alcoholic iodine, followed by Heidenhain's iron haematoxylin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| iodine tincture | A hydroalcoholic solution containing 2% elemental iodine and 2.4% potassium iodide to facilitate dissolution and 47% alcohol; used as an antiseptic/germicide on the skin surface for cuts and scratches. Has been used as a skin disinfectant before surgery but is now largely replaced by organic forms of iodine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| iodine value | An indication of the quantity of unsaturated fatty acids present in a fat; it represents the number of grams of iodine absorbed by each 100 g of fat. See: hydrogen number. Synonym: iodine value. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tamed iodine | A combination of iodine with a surfactant carrier, usually polyvinylpyrrolidone. Commercial preparations generally contain 1% "available" iodine, which is slowly released to take effect against microorganisms; used as skin disinfectants, particularly for surgical scrubs. Synonym: tamed iodine. Origin: iodine + G. Phora, a carrying (05 Mar 2000) |
| undecoylium chloride-iodine | A complex of iodine with undecoylium chloride; a cationic detergent used topically as a germicidal agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lugol's iodine solution | An iodine-potassium iodide solution used as an oxidizing agent, for removal of mercurial fixation artifacts, and also in histochemistry and to stain amoebas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |
| acid phosphatase test for semen | A screening test for semen by determining acid phosphatase content; because seminal fluid contains high concentrations of acid phosphatase, while other body fluids and extraneous foreign materials have very low concentrations, high values of acid phosphatase on vaginal aspirate or lavage, or on wash fluid from stains, render positive identification of semen, even if the male is aspermic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid reflux test | A test to detect gastroesophageal reflux by monitoring oesophageal pH by an electrode in the distal oesophagus either basally or after acid is instilled into the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |